Microsoft working on Paint 3D for Windows 10 Mobile, currently in alpha

While Windows Insiders can already get their hands on a preview version of the new Paint 3D app that is coming with the Windows 10 Creators Update, a similar preview for Mobile isn't yet available. However, Windows Insider head Dona Sarkar has confirmed that a Windows 10 Mobile version of the app is in development, and is currently in the alpha stage.

When the Creators Update was revealed at the Microsoft's October Windows 10 event, Windows 10 Mobile didn't fetch much attention, so the status of a Paint 3D app for the platform was a bit of a mystery. While there's no word on when we can expect a similar preview for Mobile to be available for Insiders, it's good to have public confirmation that it's being worked on. Expect the Paint 3D app for Mobile to eventually make its way out to Insiders with a future Creators Update build.

In the meantime, WindowsBlogitalia (via WinBeta) appears to have obtained a look at what the mobile Paint 3D app may look like. It's unclear if this is a mock-up or a genuine screenshot, but you can take a look in the image below.

Reader comments

Microsoft working on Paint 3D for Windows 10 Mobile, currently in alpha

still hoping paypal here maps and google apps come to windows mobile. Android is just not as good as windows mobile even with the crapy hamburger menu and gestures beta still not suporting windows 10 mobile.

Google though a ***** knows where and what to invest. Windows mobile will no way attract them seeing the users. Further, Microsoft has further blocked the opportunity as it has provided all the services what Google has to provide in a half baked way.

Microsoft need to really make developer tools free and provide a open ecosystem if they want to see their apps rise. No one wants to pay for the developer tools to build apps which is going to be used by less than 1℅ of users.

The focus data can be applied to multiple points, bringing in real depth information. In the demo, they walked around the item capturing depth enhanced images and putting them together into a 3D object.

After this years conference Microsoft have set a benchmark for all other operating systems just have to work on other windows phone os too cz and if they improve in that they can easily get their throne back. A request for windows please make a next level improvement in u n ur app store i want u to take over the market of android.

Think about that. If the Surface phone runs full blown windows, Windows Mobile and Continuum are irrelevent. Full blown Windows can do everything that mobile can, so what would be the point of the mobile version of the OS? Continuum provides nothing that you can't already do with full windows, second screen, different app on device and second screen, wired or wireless (miracast) second screen. The need for Windows Mobile right now is to run on ARM, the typical phone processor architecture. The feasibility of an x86/64 based mobile device is still a bit iffy. The intel compute sticks, Kangaroo PCs, indicate it is getting closer, but none of these have stellar battery life even without driving any display.

hey Microsoft, why don't you go straight to the point and release paint 3D for android and iOS. we all know you're gonna do that anyways so might as well be honest about it and not waste your time making an app for windows 10 mobile. P.S. you do realize that you own windows 10 mobile right?

Cool cool cool! Although, anyone could have guessed that the app is based on UWP and thus can easily be brought to mobile. But the bigger news is this gesture of goodwill on Microsoft's part on bringing it to their meagre mobile user share. Kinda sorta also shows how Microsoft is still invested in Windows on this form factor (phones, small tablets) and (particularly) Windows on ARM, even if they aren't seem to be trying to aggressively push hardware based on windows 10 mobile. Also, does that mean we will finally get to see native Windows Ink(ing) integration into mobile SKUs? About time. Kinda late for a company which loves digital pens and inking.

The more that time passes and I see more and more UWP apps that don't run on W10 Mobile until months after their PC variants launch, if ever, the more and more skeptical I become about UWP as a solution to the app gap. They made it sound like it was going to be as simple as 'checking a few boxes', but clearly it is not that simple.

Them pulling back from Windows Phone in 2013 just as it was starting to take off (> 5% global share, including dozens of markets with double-digit share and ahead of iPhone) was foolish. They may never get back to that now. And what was once at least a somewhat tolerable app gap has been progressively exacerbated ever since.

why does everyone sees the future in apps? I mean Google and latest Apple too presented one app (ok on the Apple TV) that combines all related Information from different Apps in one. Think about the web and think about an app that combines e.g. for photos for all of your flicker, 500px, snapchat etc. activities and libraries in one.
Then there's no need for dedicated app developmen any longer because of the OS app.
And for news, convertion & translation, videos, podcasts and music as well as search there'll be an assistant / AI / bot / browser that'll help you out.
Similar to Outlook, where I integrated my Outlook as well as my Mac and iCloud email addresses.

Only problem might be the limited high speed data plan / volume which are available now. But I'm sure this will change..

It's not realistic to have everything or too many functionalities integrated to OS. Also ecosystem is important and giving any developers a chance to develop apps and make business with the chosen platform.

You can only do so much with the OS. It's not meant or design to do everything.

Because this is the concept how we use and functions on modern OS? Apps are just software installed to the OS, so does will be boys and other things. Apps are executable software that is convenient for everybody that packaged the functionality it offers, managed by the system.

Let's say on desktop OSes we rely on different softs of apps/executable software to do the task we want. Each app is specialized and optimized for the specific or multiple task.

Apps are compiled and optimized to the system and also the hardware while being efficient. Web apps aren't all that efficient and in terms of UI, web are unfortunately still not best for touch and other forms of computer interaction as they are inconsistent and non-standard. Not to mention web apps are just another layer of codebase that will run over the web browser, which is just an additional layers of overhead to system resources.

If you mean an app that served multiple functions and have API for integrations from another services or apps, that's like the Hub concept from Windows Phone which is sadly gone I wish it would return. Even still, it relies on apps as Hubs can only do so much and not every user will stick to 1st-party offering.

I hope you are right.... Nevertheless, as we continue to use the term "Surface Phone" I wonder if MS might decide it should be called something other than just a phone... Satya says he doesn't want to be some guy that makes just another Phone, or something like that... Plus, the way MS has been acting lately they don't want to have anything to do with the concept of current popular technology. They seem to figure if they can't win in specific segments, then they will create their own. I believe that if MS DOES make a Surface mobile device they would not call it Phone (although, it would technically be called a damn phone)... I think MS might find some term to describe a universal, or central W10 mobile device that can "continue" from one aspect of life to another as needed... I have no idea what that word would be, and it actually seems like it would be hard to get it right.. If this is the case I think MS's biggest challenge would be getting people to call it what it is, and not a phone... BUT!!! And, a big but this would be;;;;; but, if MS can create this perfected, super appealing, mobile continuum, device, they would have created a new segment in mobile devices... And, the last time they did that it worked... Think about that. How could this device simple be called a phone when it does so much more? That's like calling a smartwatch just a watch, or a Surface Studio just a computer. I bet, I know,, this is what MS is thinking, and this is what they want for 2020. They might just be ahead of the curve this time.

The way I see it, if MS really was abandoning mobile, they wouldnt put their resources into bringing Paint 3D to mobile and if theyre bringing Paint 3D, it's a no brainer that Ink will follow as well, one reason being Paint uses inking second being Microsoft wants the sams experience throughout their ecosystem, thirdly, Ink is definitely a differentiator feature that could be used as one of the selling points over the other platforms.

You bring up an interesting point Rodneyej regarding the name and I think you might be right, they most probably would opt for a unique name for the Surface Phone for the reasons you stated, they would want the consumer to know this is more than just a smartphone. The ONLY reason I could see them stick with the likes of Surface Phone for a name, is that they want to make it clear that it's primarily a phone. That said, Surface has been targeting niche audience, so it could very well be they expect the users who want such a device to know of it's existence. Surface Communicator, Surface Talk, Surface Call, Surface Pocket, Surface Cell ..just some i could think of that would be different but still send the message across that its a phone.

Either way, I look forward to what they bring to the table and after the Surface Studio reveal, my interested grew even more!

I agree.
We need to stop saying that they are abandoning the consumer market.. MS is still targeting the consumer, although maybe not the general consumer. They are targeting consumers who want a device that has real productive capabilities, and can help them grow thier business, or excel their career, or do best in school... MS's vision for a phone is that it should be an important tool that you need, enjoy, and ultimately can't live without, rather a toy that's popular for the time being, and gets lost in the sea of other toys..
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The thing is that probably 50% of iDroid users really need, want, and could greatly benefit, from MS's idea of a mobile 3i1.... That is why MS having their own example (Surface Phone), and marketing, are so important. Their are millions of business minded people who don't have time to even know, or care, about Snapchat, or Pokémon go. Honestly, I would say at least 30% of current iDroid smartphone users would be fine with a Lumia 950.. They just are not sold one. They don't know about it. This is why I always say that even without apps WP could've had at least 20% market share from Android if marketing/ product placement were sufficient.

Beautifully said, @rodneyej. That seems to be consistent with Panos' approach to devices too. Not sure how many people saw, but there was a video here on Windows Central a few months ago where Ben "PC Guy" Rudolph took us on a walk-through of the design center with Panos. There were several references to the phone/mobile work that Panay's team was working on, with a lot of "too secret, we're not going to talk about that today." There's certainly something intriguing brewing there.

He was the face of a failed platform.. Him, and Joe. They had to remove them from their mobile "face" to put that failure in the past... Now, you see Panos.... Although, Panos has an odd "car salesman" characteristic to him. Lol. But, he's cool. Can't complain.

There are a lot of things MS does, that are good, that they could implement in mobile... Mainly, a plethora of desktop features that would be super useful on mobile. The fact is, while W10 mobile is running W10 W10m should be the most feature rich mobile OS in the world.. It should EASILY put Android to shame.
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The fact that MS (imo) has slowed down development of WM, and has practically stoped bringing over new features from desktop, might be a hint they plan to make a x86 mobile device with full on W10... Why would you continue to mess with your mobile OS when you already have one that is hammered out feature wise? And, this would signify a more unified approach to continuum. I believe full on Windows10 on a "phone" is their ultimate goal... Sort of a W10Mv2.0

Excellent news this. My main concern/question was whether the Paint 3D app on PC is actually a UWP app from the ground up (which would be the best example of the power of UWP apps so far) or whether it is a Win32 app that is distributed through the store within the Centenial UWP wrapper type of application.

Sounds like it's "native" UWP if there's a mobile version in Alpha.

Really want to see this Windows 3D Scanning app come to phones to see whether it's as good as they showed at the event - I'm not 100% sure she scanned in that image of the sandcastle on stage since she'd already created the final scene to improve the flow of the demo